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Yost says Salvy is fine after foul ball off mask

Yost says Salvy is fine after foul ball off mask

KANSAS CITY -- Royals catcher Salvador Perez was removed in the fifth inning of Thursday's 7-6 walk-off victory against the Mariners shortly after being struck in the mask by a foul ball.

The club announced that he was lifted as a precautionary measure because of mild dizziness. Perez underwent concussion tests after leaving the game.

"He's fine," manager Ned Yost said. "He came in and had a little nausea and a little dizziness, but it dissipated really quickly. They gave him the SCAT test and he was an 84 out of 85. If he comes in feeling good tomorrow, he'll be ready to go."

Perez took a hard foul shot off the mask with Dustin Ackley batting in the Mariners' half of the fifth, but stayed in the game after talking to assistant trainer Kyle Turner. In the bottom half of the inning, Perez delivered an RBI single, his third hit of the game. He was looked at again while at first base and left the game.

"When he got hit, he kind of fell backwards. We went and checked him, he was fine, his eyes weren't real glazed," Yost said. "When he got the hit and got to first base, he got a little dizzy. I wasn't going to take any chances. Once you get a little dizzy, one more blow to your head could put him out for the year. He felt OK, wanted to stay in the game, but once you get a little dizziness, no."

Foul balls off his mask have plagued Perez previously this season. He was placed on the seven-day concussion disabled list on Aug. 4 after being hit by a foul ball in the 12th inning the previous night at New York in a 4-3 win over the Mets. He was reinstated on Aug. 11.

Brett Hayes ran for Perez and took over behind the plate.

Dick Kaegel is a reporter for MLB.com. Kathleen Gier is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.